HiI know similar versions of this has been done before, but I would like to have a good plan of action.

We (including 2 kids 16 and 13) are travelling to Yosemite from San Francisco at the start of August. We should get to Yosemite around 3pm. We have booked to stay in Curry Village for one night so was wondering what is the best plan to see as much as possible without tiring ourselves out?A lot of posts I have seen say about taking the tour, so presumably the tours do not have the same traffic problems we would have in our car.

We plan to leave early evening the following day, but can stay later if necessary.

The congested areas tend to be the grocery store and around the restaurants/fast food. The tour doesn't go there and they have their own special lane in a few places. I highly recommend the tour. Then you can go see more on your own that interests you the most. There's a free shuttle bus that goes in a continuous loop in the east end of the Valley. I recommend seeing Yosemite Falls and stopping at the west end of the Valley at Tunnel View (aka Inspiration Point), Bridalveil Falls (both falls are short walks), and El Capitan.

I also recommend seeing the Valley from above at Glacier Point. Early morning is less crowded.

If you had more time, I would see Wawona Grove (Giant Sequoias), but that takes a day (half day to visit, then driving there and back). They have another open air shuttle tour there that tours the grove, or you can walk.